Trainer Rob Heathcote is hopeful a late decision to target the $175,000, listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) with Kaiser Franz will be vindicated in the feature on Saturday.
Heathcote did not have the Ipswich Cup on Kaiser Franz’s radar until the Ipswich track was rated in the heavy range following recent rain.
“It wasn’t our plan to go to this race,” Heathcote said.
“The only reason he is running is because the track is going to be wet.
“What he lacks in ability he makes up for on a wet track.
“His goal all along has been the Caloundra Cup followed by the Queensland Cup.”
The Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) will be run at the Sunshine Coast on July 1 with the Queensland Cup (3200m) on July 15.
Kaiser Franz gave Heathcote his second feature race win during the Brisbane winter carnival when he claimed the Group 3 Premier’s Cup at Eagle Farm last month.
“I’m happy with what we’ve achieved against the interstate and overseas horses during the winter,” Heathcote said.
“Bidii Babe won a Listed race and Kaiser Franz won a Group 3 so it’s not a bad effort at this time of the year.
“Any race you pick up at carnival time is a bonus.”
Kaiser Franz is coming off a last start 10th to Chocante in last week’s Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Doomben.
“I was disappointed when the Brisbane Cup was switched from Eagle Farm to Brisbane as he goes well on the bigger track with the softer surface,” Heathcote said.
“Two runs ago he was struggling to win in Benchmark races and a lot of people were surprised when he won the Group 3 race.
“But I suspected he would handle Eagle Farm better than the others in the Premier’s Cup and he did.”
Heathcote is chasing his third Ipswich Cup victory after winning it twice with Our Lukas in 2009 and 2010.
Heathcote believes there are several dangers to Kaiser Franz but the biggest local threat is the Michael Nolan-trained Jumbo Prince.
Jumbo Prince was runner-up to Maurus in last year’s Ipswich Cup before going on to place in the Caloundra and Grafton Cups.
Jumbo Prince started his winter campaign by dead heating with Col ‘N’ Lil in the Listed Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba.
He then ran a gallant fourth in the Listed Tails Stakes and third in the Listed Members Handicap at Doomben before failing behind Kaiser Franz in the Premier’s Cup.
